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November 22, 2024
 

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Alice Gordenker

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Alice Gordenker
Alice Gordenker writes the "So, What the Heck is That?" column, providing in-depth, carefully researched explanations of the things foreigners find so puzzling about Japan. Her work has been modified as a textbook for Japanese university students called "Surprising Japan" (Shohakusha, 2012).
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Sep 16, 2010
Laundry logic
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jul 15, 2010
Ladies' plans
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jun 17, 2010
Vader ladies
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
May 20, 2010
A traditional Christian pattern?
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Apr 15, 2010
Ear rakes
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Mar 18, 2010
Dump-truck identification numbers
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Feb 18, 2010
Logo for recyclables
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jan 21, 2010
Landlocked 'lighthouse'
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Dec 17, 2009
Scary crow
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Nov 19, 2009
Keikaisen (guard ships)
Dear Alice,
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Oct 15, 2009
Underground rice paddies in Otemachi
Dear Alice,Please settle a bet. I met this guy in a bar who swore up and down that there are secret subterranean rice paddies all over Tokyo, part of a hush-hush government program to feed the national body in the event of nuclear war. In fact, he insisted a paddy was planted deep underground wherever...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 3, 2009
The first Western diplomat in Japan
Pop quiz: The first Western diplomat to set foot in Japan came from what country? Portugal? Holland? England? Actually, the correct answer is Mexico.
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Sep 17, 2009
Statue outside Shinjuku Sumitomo Building
Dear Alice,On the premises of the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building in Tokyo there is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. It's quite big — larger than lifesize. I've known about it for years, since the building was first constructed, but no one has ever been able to tell me what the heck a prominent saint...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jul 16, 2009
Ishigaki
Dear Alice, Is it weird to love a wall? I recently visited the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and was totally blown away by a high rock embankment on the far side of the moat. That rugged face! Those elegant lines! I am completely enchanted and want to know anything at all you can tell me. But there's one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 3, 2009
A freedom that fostered richness
Two exhibitions now showing at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography offer a fascinating contrast in photojournalism.
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jun 18, 2009
Shichimi
Dear Alice, Based on my forays into Japanese restaurants in North America, I was under the impression that Japanese cuisine didn't feature any spicy flavorsat all. Then, on my first trip to Japan, I wandered into a restaurant that specializes in soba noodles. When my order came, the waitress drew my...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
May 21, 2009
Wild orchids
Dear Alice, Can you please find out what the heck I saw on Mount Takao on the outskirts of Tokyo? Last spring, about this time of year, I was on a trail with a lot of other hikers lugging cameras and tripods. All of a sudden everyone got very excited. Not knowing Japanese, I had no idea what they were...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Apr 16, 2009
'No-wash rice' (musenmai)
Dear Alice,I recently returned to Japan after 12 years back in my home country. I knew a lot of things would be different after such a long time away, but I never expected the rice to have changed! My former home-stay mom was always a stickler about washing the rice thoroughly before cooking, but when...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 3, 2009
Lost & Found
The discovery in a German archive of documents and photographs related to the Prussian mission to Japan in 1860-61 has shed new light on the early history of photography in Japan. In particular, newly uncovered letters and records help explain the mystery of why so few images from the well-equipped mission...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Mar 19, 2009
Feral parakeets
Dear Alice, Please settle an argument. I play tennis on the public courts in Arisugawa Park in central Tokyo. On several occasions I have seen bright-green noisy birds flying free around the tall outdoor lights there. I'm convinced these gregarious dandies are wild parrots. My wife says I'm out of...
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.

Podcast

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